Codavas want tribal status, Coorg as autonomous region

A group of Codavas (Coorgis) led by NU Nachappa Codava, president  of the Codava National Council (CNC), recently staged a rally in the national Capital. They reiterated the government to meet their long-standing demand of granting union territory and autonomous region status to Kodagu. Besides, they demanded the government to grant tribal status to Codavas.

Referring to the government’s pact with National Socialist Council of  Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) on August 3, 2015, granting Naga people a “shared sovereignty”, the CNC demands a permanent political package to what was formerly Coorg (Kodagu) state, including autonomy to the region inhabited by Codavas, under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. 

The CNC also demanded tribal status to Codavas under Articles 340-342 of the Constitution. Belonging to the warrior  class, despite their small population, a large number of Codavas have joined the Armed Forces and have made India proud. Field Marshal KM Cariappa and General KS Thimayya were the first and sixth chiefs of  the Indian Army.

CNC contends that no other class would be adversely affected if Codavas are granted the tribal status. The outfit claims that Codava Thakk, their language, being as ancient as human civilisation, should be included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

The CNC also demanded that provisions of Article 371 for inner line permit should be made applicable to Kodagu region as done in Manipur and other North-eastern states, for protecting their land and demography. It also expressed concern that a large number of anti-national elements, with the help of Hawala agencies and fake currency racketeers, had been grabbing plots in Koadagu region. The outfit demanded that Codavas’ representation in Parliament and state Assembly should be at par with Anglo-Indians under Article 331 of the Constitution.

While staging their protest, they recalled how Tipu Sultan’s army had massacred around 60,000 unarmed Codavas On December 13, 1785. After being defeated by Codavas while trying to invade the region thrice, Sultan conspired to eliminate the entire race by cunningly inviting them for a feast on the pretext of entering a friendly treaty, at Devati Paramb. 

The CNC lamented that all its efforts for making Devati Paramb a national monument are being hijacked. 

Anglicised by the Britons as Coorg, Codagu, also Kodagu, covering an area of 4,104 sq km, was a Part C state with an elected chief minister and legislative assembly, before it was merged with Karnataka as a district, in 1956. 

Codavas have been known as brave warriors, sportspersons and growers of excellent coffee, cardamom, pepper, orange, honey, vanilla and anthorium. For their population of 548,561,in the 2001 Census and 5,54,000 as per the 2011 Census, their contribution to nation-building has been commendable.  On August 15, 1947, Coorg, an erstwhile kingdom annexed by the British, became a province of the Indian Union. On January 26, 1950, when the Constituent Assembly was dissolved, the Constitution was passed and India was declared a Republic, Coorg province became a federal Class “C” State in the Indian Union.